Southern Oregon University and The College of Idaho Earn Cross Country Poll Top Spots

LA GRANDE, Ore. - After a vote by Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) head coaches, Southern Oregon University has been selected as the favorite in the 2017 Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll while The College of Idaho earned the top spot in the 2017 women's poll.

Southern Oregon finished with seven first place votes in the poll, totaling77 points. The Raiders claimed the CCC 2016 cross country championship to earn their ninth title in a row and went on to win the NAIA National Championship.

Eastern Oregon University came in second place with 68 points and received two first place votes. The College of Idaho (64) was selected third while Oregon Tech (53) was picked fourth and Northwest Christian University (50) was picked in the fifth spot.

Rounding out the men's poll are Corban University (34 points) in sixth, Northwest University (31) in seventh, Multnomah University (19) in eighth and Warner Pacific College (9) in ninth.

Four CCC men's teams were represented in the NAIA post season poll last year including SOU No.1, CI No. 4, EOU No. 13 and OIT No. 19.

On the women's side, The College of Idaho received four first-place votes to lead the poll with 74 points. Northwest Christian University, the three-time defending CCC champion also earned four first-place votes but is picked second overall with 66 points. Joining the Beacons in a tie for second place is Southern Oregon University. The Raiders picked up the remaining first-place vote and also garnered 66 points.

Oregon Tech (54) was selected in the fourth position followed by Corban University (43) in the fifth spot.

Remaining poll positions are Eastern Oregon University (37) in sixth, Northwest University (31) in seventh, Multnomah University (23) in eighth and Warner Pacific College (11) in ninth.

The 2017 CCC Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Ore., at Lane Farms and are slated for Nov. 4. The CCC is the host for the NAIA National Cross Country Championships. The meet will be held November 18th at the Historic Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington. This will be the fifth time the national meet will be hosted at Fort Vancouver.

2017 CCC Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Polls

Men's Poll

Team

Points

1.

Southern Oregon (7)

77

2.

Eastern Oregon

68

3.

College of Idaho

64

4.

Oregon Tech

53

5.

Northwest Christian

50

6.

Corban

34

7.

Northwest

31

8.

Multnomah

19

9.

Warner Pacific

9

Women's Poll

Team

Points

1.

College of Idaho (4)

74

T-2.

Northwest Christian (4)

66

T-2.

Southern Oregon (1)

66

4.

Oregon Tech

54

5.

Corban

43

6.

Eastern Oregon

37

7.

Northwest

31

8.

Multnomah

23

9.

Warner Pacific

11

The NAIA men's and women's cross country preseason polls will be released August 23rd.